Cult becomes art - Special exhibition "Studio Berlin" at Berghain

The club scene in Berlin is down; no parties, no music. Many clubs are experiencing enormous financial pressure, such as the legendary techno club Berghain in Berlin. In order to deal with the impacts of the Corona Virus, the club was converted into an exhibition location. Instead of queuing up to dance, you now wait there for art.

The Myth of Berghain

Berghain, probably the most famous techno club in the world, is known for its wild parties that last several days. It opened in 2004 and got it’s namesake from the ends of the names of it’s two neighboring districts, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. The media is constantly reporting on it, they covered how to even get into the club because Berghain, like many other clubs in Berlin, is known for having a tough door policy. Filming inside the club is strictly forbidden because it is supposed to be a free place without restrictions for every visitor. No one should worry about videos surfacing on the internet.

The collaboration between Berghain and Boros Foundation

Whoever tried and failed to get into Berghain in the past no longer has to be afraid of being turned away again. Everyone who has booked a ticket online is guaranteed to get into the club. Following the Art Week, the special exhibition “Studio Berlin” will be open from September 9th in Berlin. The exhibition will be available to the public until the Club reopens.

Rirkrit Tiravanija for Studio Berlin 2020 on the Berghain facade

A collaboration with the Boros Foundation has enabled the club to exhibit contemporary art. Artworks from about 115 artists living in Berlin are on show. The list of artists remains open, as new pieces will be added over the course of the program. There are many well-known names on the list, such as Olafur Eliasson, Monica Bonvicini, Alicja Kwade, Wolfgang Tillmans, Isa Genzken, and others. You can enjoy photographs, sculptures, but also video and sound installations. The focus, however, is on artworks created during the pandemic. The exhibition is intended to show everything that occupied the artists during the Corona crisis. Artworks are scattered everywhere in the 17-meter-high hall, yes – including in the club toilets, and at the bar, and in the other numerous rooms of the club.

The unwritten motto is “Freedom”, a word that did not only gain massive importance during the quarantine period but also hovers over Berlin as the city of freedom and acceptance.

In true Berghain form, you won’t be able to see much of the artworks online and in social media, as there is a strict ban on photography and video during the exhibition. But for those who are there, guided tours can be booked, both by art experts and by Club staff, who can provide background information on the respective parts of the Club. All proceeds will benefit the club, which, together with many other clubs in the city, fears for its future.